Siliconslave's how to make espresso thread

Participant · 31 May 2019 at 09:48

Ok I've had another play this morning. Dialled in the grind quantity to give 17g (which causes the last bit of coffee to go everywhere as the basket spills over), set the grinder to 4. Between setting 4 and 3, the espresso moves from an overly quick extraction to a ristretto choke, where the machine can barely get water past the coffee.

There's no backflush plate in there to my knowledge. Just a black plastic disc with a hole in it underneath the basket, which looks like it should definitely be there.

I've played with different tamping force to no avail.

It must be the beans.

Next thing I'm going to try is programming the double shot volume to give 35g of espresso.

Dj_Jestar · 31 May 2019 at 09:52

What size basket do you have? They are usually graded as something like 16-18g, 18-20g etc.

When you say "spill over" do you mean the grinds start to spill over, or do you mean the water when pulling the shot? If the latter.. that's not a good sign.

Participant · 31 May 2019 at 10:36

Dj_Jestar said:
What size basket do you have? They are usually graded as something like 16-18g, 18-20g etc.

When you say "spill over" do you mean the grinds start to spill over, or do you mean the water when pulling the shot? If the latter.. that's not a good sign.

It doesn't say but it's apparently a 53mm filter.

When I say spill over I mean the former, i.e. to get 17g the grounds will be spilling over the side of the filter.

Siliconslave · 31 May 2019 at 10:52

Participant said:
Ok I've had another play this morning. Dialled in the grind quantity to give 17g (which causes the last bit of coffee to go everywhere as the basket spills over), set the grinder to 4. Between setting 4 and 3, the espresso moves from an overly quick extraction to a ristretto choke, where the machine can barely get water past the coffee.

Thats defiantly progress

next thing to check is the amount of coffee your getting out on the 'ristretto choke'. May also be worth reducing the amount of coffee your putting in the basket a little, try going to 15g?

Participant said:
When I say spill over I mean the former, i.e. to get 17g the grounds will be spilling over the side of the filter.

again this can be normal, just need to balance it carefully before tamping. My last set of beans would be overflowing at 18g ground but the next set (same roaster and blend) is fine

jpaul · 31 May 2019 at 11:09

I guess you are weighing the coffee manualy - so no error there,

- just stumbled on an interesting article : https://www.reddit.com/r/Coffee/comments/81jy6b/a_noobs_journey_with_a_breville_barista_express/
for him one step on the BE grinder can make a big difference to extraction time, so yes, try adjusting charge.
.. I had had similar issues on my Rocky grinder so blocked the stepping mechanism - the idea in that thread for BE with a bulldog clip is interesting.

Raymond Lin · 3 Jun 2019 at 09:01

Anyone tried one of these?

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Oomph-Adva...srs=7424521031&ie=UTF8&qid=1559548504&sr=1-27

It looks like an as if an aeropress and french press had a baby.

Want something for the office, could get a french press but came across this.

Flibster · 3 Jun 2019 at 12:38

Raymond Lin said:
Anyone tried one of these?

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Oomph-Adva...srs=7424521031&ie=UTF8&qid=1559548504&sr=1-27

It looks like an as if an aeropress and french press had a baby.

Want something for the office, could get a french press but came across this.

Over to Mr Hoffmann...

Raymond Lin · 3 Jun 2019 at 12:53

Flibster said:
Over to Mr Hoffmann...

Thanks. I’ve decided to go for a french press, easier to clean and can make more than 1 cup. That looks far too much faff with the lock and valves. Far too many points of failure.

Participant · 15 Jun 2019 at 10:21

Check out my latte art LOL

Hmmm Imgur no work

Participant · 15 Jun 2019 at 10:26

mattyg · 15 Jun 2019 at 10:42

I managed this, under pressure for the photographer. Finished pic doesn't have the best before..lol

Dj_Jestar · 15 Jun 2019 at 12:50

Participant said:
Check out my latte art LOL

Hmmm Imgur no work

You need to get the direct link from imgur, which they are increasingly making less convenient I'll add :

https://i.imgur.com/VxTVIEJl.jpg

Participant · 15 Jun 2019 at 13:40

Dj_Jestar said:
You need to get the direct link from imgur, which they are increasingly making less convenient I'll add :

Thanks!

dl8860 · 17 Jun 2019 at 10:07

Have fancied grinding my own beans at home for a while but the price of good electric grinders / the effort of cheaper manual ones has always put me off.

I remember reading a while back that cheaper electric grinders are a total no-no, is that still the case? Saw this which is very tempting to give a go at that price, or am I 100% just pouring money away?

https://www.lidl.co.uk/en/MiddleofLidl.htm?articleId=23030

Raymond Lin · 17 Jun 2019 at 10:11

dl8860 said:
Have fancied grinding my own beans at home for a while but the price of good electric grinders / the effort of cheaper manual ones has always put me off.

I remember reading a while back that cheaper electric grinders are a total no-no, is that still the case? Saw this which is very tempting to give a go at that price, or am I 100% just pouring money away?

https://www.lidl.co.uk/en/MiddleofLidl.htm?articleId=23030

Cheap blade grinders gives uneven grind thats why people say it is not the best.

It works fine for things like V60 or filter coffee or Cafeteria but i wouldn't put it through an espresso machine.

Snookums · 17 Jun 2019 at 11:32

Delonghi do an excellent burr grinder for entry level/brewed coffee it's there cheapest burr grinder think is about 40. Just make sure you get the burr model not the blade

Also I once bought a blade from lidl May have even been that one and it was naff. It was either grinding way to coarse and clumpy or grinding into a powder. I tried to use it once then just got rid of it as I couldn't be bothered with the faff of trying to return an opened and used grinder.

dl8860 · 17 Jun 2019 at 13:50

I have a clever dripper and a cafetiere, so maybe it would be ok, but now you've mentioned you can get a decent DeLonghi one for 40 odd, there's one with a proper burr grinder on amazon for £35 so that looks a better buy really

Scottland · 17 Jun 2019 at 14:14

Hate being really snobbish about coffee and things, but really wouldn't bother with a blade grinder for anything other than spices. They give a grind size that's too inconsistent for almost anything.

Delonghi and Krups I think both to cheap burr grinders around the £40 mark, if you're were spending more I'd say the Sage Dose control is decent for espresso at that price point - or the Wilfa Svart for filter/pour over/aeropress.

LuckyBenski · 17 Jun 2019 at 14:32

I'd say manual grinders aren't too bad. I can do enough for a large cafetiere or a double espresso in the time it takes the kettle/machine to heat up. Makes a nice part of the ritual if you go for that

Snookums · 17 Jun 2019 at 15:48

dl8860 said:
I have a clever dripper and a cafetiere, so maybe it would be ok, but now you've mentioned you can get a decent DeLonghi one for 40 odd, there's one with a proper burr grinder on amazon for £35 so that looks a better buy really

Yeah that sounds about right. It'll be more than up to the job for filter coffees. If you end up getting an espresso machine you'd need to upgrade it for sure tho so if you have intentions for the future better future proofing now.